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PubMed1991

Nucleotide sequence of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis 9.4 kbp EcoRI-I and -R (polyhedrin gene) region.

The nucleotide sequence of a 9.4-kbp region including the polyhedrin gene of the C6 strain of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) genome was determined. These data provide a complete description of the EcoRI-I fragment, which is used to produce transfer vectors for inserting foreign genes into the AcMNPV. Ten potential open reading frames (ORFs) were identified in the complete sequence, on either strand of DNA. The largest of these was 1629 nucleotides in length and was located downstream from the polyhedrin coding sequences, but on the opposite strand of DNA. Northern blot hybridization analysis of ORF 8 (1629) identified an RNA of 2000 nucleotides which was produced in infected cells from 12 hr p.i. and remained until at least 48 hr p.i. S1 nuclease mapping and analysis of cDNA clones located the 3' end of the mRNA at a site 16 nucleotides downstream of the polyhedrin coding sequences. The 5' end of the mRNA was mapped using primer extension analysis of polyadenylated RNA. The mRNA start site was positioned within a late/very late consensus transcription initiation motif (ATAAG), 428 nucleotides upstream from the potential ATG translation initiation codon. The biological significance of the putative gene product was assessed by inserting a synthetic oligonucleotide in the carboxyl terminal coding sequences of ORF 8 (1629) to prematurely terminate translation. Recombinant viruses containing this mutation were not isolated, suggesting that the ORF 1629 gene product is essential for virus replication.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

In vivo restriction by LlaI is encoded by three genes, arranged in an operon with llaIM, on the conjugative Lactococcus plasmid pTR2030.

The LlaI restriction and modification (R/M) system is encoded on pTR2030, a 46.2-kb conjugative plasmid from Lactococcus lactis. The llaI methylase gene, sequenced previously, encodes a functional type IIS methylase and is located approximately 5 kb upstream from the abiA gene, encoding abortive phage resistance. In this study, the sequence of the region between llaIM and abiA was determined and revealed four consecutive open reading frames (ORFs). Northern (RNA) analysis showed that the four ORFs were part of a 7-kb operon with llaIM and the downstream abiA gene on a separate transcriptional unit. The deduced protein sequence of ORF2 revealed a P-loop consensus motif for ATP/GTP-binding sites and a three-part consensus motif for GTP-binding proteins. Data bank searches with the deduced protein sequences for all four ORFs revealed no homology except for ORF2 with MerB, in three regions that coincided with the GTP-binding motifs in both proteins. To phenotypically analyze the llaI operon, a 9.0-kb fragment was cloned into a high-copy-number lactococcal shuttle vector, pTRKH2. The resulting construct, pTRK370, exhibited a significantly higher level of in vivo restriction and modification in L. lactis NCK203 than the low-copy-number parental plasmid, pTR2030. A combination of deletion constructions and frameshift mutations indicated that the first three ORFs were involved in LlaI restriction, and they were therefore designated llaI.1, llaI.2, and llaI.3. Mutating llaI.1 completely abolished restriction, while disrupting llaI.2 or llaI.3 allowed an inefficient restriction of phage DNA to occur, manifested primarily by a variable plaque phenotype. ORF4 had no discernible effect on in vivo restriction. A frameshift mutation in llaIM proved lethal to L. lactis NCK203, implying that the restriction component was active without the modification subunit. These results suggested that the LlaI R/M system is unlike any other R/M system studied to date and has diverged from the type IIS class of restriction enzymes by acquiring some characteristics reminiscent of type I enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Molecular organization and replication of hepatitis E virus (HEV).

The recently characterized fecal-orally transmitted agent of hepatitis E (formerly known as enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis) has been determined to be a new type of positive strand RNA virus. The complete sequencing of four different geographic isolates of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) has confirmed a similar genetic organization not previously recognized in nonenveloped positive strand RNA viruses. The approximately 7.5 kb RNA genome (including polyA tail) has nonstructural genes located at the 5' end and structural genes at the 3' end. Expression of these viral genes occurs in at least 3 different forward open reading frames. The largest open reading frame begins 27 nucleotides (nt) downstream of the apparent noncoding 5' end and extends 5,079 nt. Multiple nonstructural gene motifs/domains have been recognized in this 5' ORF1 including a methyltransferase, a papain-like protease, a helicase and the RNA-dependent, RNA polymerase. The second major ORF2 begins 37nt downstream of ORF1 and extends 1980 nt before terminating 65 nt upstream of the polyadenylation site. A third ORF of only 369 nt was identified by immunoscreening experiments as encoding an immunogenic epitope of the virus. Expression of the downstream ORF2 may occur through internal subgenomic RNA initiation at a sequence element found to have homology to internal RNA initiation sequences in Sindbis virus. This element in the HEV genome maps near the apparent 5' end of one of two identified subgenomic messages. The genomic organization and expression of HEV will be discussed and a hypothesis presented regarding the viral replication strategy.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Studies on the genomic organization of recombinant Streptococcus gordonii and the development of a novel intergenic integration site for foreign gene expression.

The methods currently employed to produce recombinant Streptococcus gordonii strains for use as vaccines and/or protein expression vectors result in the insertion of foreign genes into an unknown integration site with no information on the transcriptional context or potential phenotypic consequences. Therefore, the genomic organization surrounding the insertion site of a recombinant strain of S. gordonii (GP1223) containing a portion of the emm6 gene of Streptococcus pyogenes was determined. The nucleotide sequence of chromosomal walks in both directions from the insertion site revealed that the insert was flanked by a duplicated 3061-bp ClaI fragment. A consensus gram-positive promoter and a factor-independent RNA polymerase terminator sequence could be deduced in the fragment immediately upstream of the insertion site. The ClaI fragment also encoded open reading frames (ORFs) with high homology and parallel structural organization to the leucine biosynthesis operon of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. Chromosomal walks downstream of the identified promoter region on the non-recombinant parental strain, GP204, yielded the sequence of two ORFs which would be normal targets of the transcription derived from this promoter. Northern analyses detected a highly expressed M6-specific transcript in recombinant strain GP1223 consistent in size with the proposed transcription unit. Transcripts analogous in length to those observed for the leucine biosynthesis operon of L. lactis subsp. lactis were also detected encompassing the homologous ORFs of S. gordonii. This information has enabled the construction of a recombinant S. gordonii strain in which the emm6 gene from S. pyogenes was targeted to a distinct intergenic locus within the S. gordonii genome. This new recombination site allows for expression of foreign gene products with minimal perturbation of the genomic organization of the wild-type S. gordonii strain and has provided information essential for further optimization of foreign gene expression levels.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2001

PCR genome walking identifies a genetic locus comprising two heat shock genes (hslV and hslU) from Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjobovis.

PCR walking on genomic DNA of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjobovis has identified a genetic locus comprising two heat shock genes (hslV and hslU). This is the first molecular study on hslV and hslU in a Leptospira species. The hslV gene has an open reading frame (ORF) of 543 bp coding for a 180-amino acid polypeptide (19.476 kD) with 49-62% identity to other bacterial HslV homologs. Forty-three nucleotides downstream from the hslV stop codon was found a second heat shock gene hslU with an ORF of 1401 bp encoding a 53.139-kD polypeptide of 467 amino acids with 49-56% identity to the HslU homologs from other bacteria. An Escherichia coli-like ribosome binding site (RBS) and a final sigma32-like heat shock promoter sequence were present upstream of both heat shock genes. Identification of the hslV and hslU genes in a Leptospira species and the high degree of similarity of the encoded proteins to the E. coli homologs suggest that the encoded HslV and HslU proteins function as forming an ATP-dependent protease complex as in E. coli.

ATP-Dependent Proteases↗
PubMed1995

Use of denaturing gradient electrophoresis to determine the distributions of polymorphisms in entire genes in natural populations.

We show here that the method of genomic denaturing gradient electrophoresis (gDGGE) can be used to examine any gene that has been previously cloned and sequenced, and to detect and approximately localize within the gene the majority of its polymorphisms. By using pooled-DNA gDGGE, many different samples can be scanned on a single gel. Further, the patterns on the gels and results from sequencing of some of the alleles shows that a variety of different kinds of polymorphism, ranging from single base changes to more substantial allelic differences, can be distinguished. The extramacrochaetae (emc) gene of Drosophila melanogaster exhibits no polymorphism in its ORF that can be detected by this method, although a rearrangement polymorphism was detected in the 3' downstream region of the gene. The suppressor-of-hairless (Su(H)) gene of D. melanogaster, however, exhibits a variety of polymorphisms in its ORF. Some are small deletions or insertions in a glutamine-rich part of the gene product that would not have been detectable by ordinary screening methods. Many of the polymorphisms detected in this preliminary survey are likely to have an impact on the function of the Su(H) gene product.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Organization and expression of a phycobiliprotein gene cluster from the unicellular red alga Cyanidium caldarium.

We have sequenced a plastid gene cluster from the unicellular red alga Cyanidium caldarium which is located downstream from the psbA gene and contains, in the following order, genes for a beta-allophycocyanin-like protein (apcB'), a putative 9.5 kDa allophycocyanin linker protein (apcL9.5) and a putative 29 kDa phycocyanin linker protein (cpcL29). The apcB' and apcL9.5 genes are organized in the form of an operon. The cpcL29 gene is transcribed monocistronically from the opposite strand of DNA. Both transcription units are probably terminated at a 25 bp inverted repeat 3 and 5 bp downstream of the stop codons of the apcL9.5 and cpcL29 genes, respectively. The levels of both transcripts are greatly reduced in the dark as is the psbA transcript. Downstream from the phycobiliprotein gene cluster two open reading frames (ORFs) were found which are homologous to ORFs from plastid DNAs and cyanelle DNA of Cyanophora paradoxa. Sequence homologies between genes analysed in this study and corresponding genes from cyanobacteria, chlorophytic plastids and cyanelles point to a large phylogenetic distance between the plastids of Cyanidium and cyanobacteria and other plastid types.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

An abundant LINE-like element amplified in the genome of Lilium speciosum.

The genomes of Lilium species are very large, containing 30-40 million kilobase pairs of DNA. An abundant fragment of 3.5 kb was released by BamHI digestion of genomic DNA of Lilium speciosum. Analysis of 20 genomic clones containing sequences homologous to the fragment showed it to be part of a 4.45 kb dispersed repeat, which was named del2. Sequence analysis of one full element and regions of four others revealed del2 to be a non-LTR (long terminal repeat) retrotransposon. It is flanked by short direct repeats of from 4 to 13 bp and a run of adenines occurs at one end (the proposed 3' end), 63 bp downstream from a polyadenylation signal. A possible RNA polymerase II promoter similar to that found in Drosophila I and F group elements is present internally 30 bp downstream from the 5' end. Two degenerate open reading frames (ORFs) are present, the 5' ORF containing a gag-related cysteine motif, and the 3' ORF containing a different cysteine motif also found in most non-LTR retrotransposons. The 3' ORF also has regions with homology to reverse transcriptase sequences, which are most similar to those in Cin4 of maize, the L1 LINE elements of humans and mice and the R2 ribosomal DNA inserts of insects. The majority of del2 elements occur as the full 4.45 kb element. They account for an estimated 4% of the L. speciosum genome and are present in approximately 250,000 copies. del2-related sequences were also detected in 12 other monocot species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

The Escherichia fergusonii iucABCD iutA genes are located within a larger chromosomal region similar to pathogenicity Islands.

Three strains of Escherichia fergusonii (EF873, EF1496, EF939) of 50 strains tested produced the hydroxamate siderophore aerobactin. Screening of a cosmid library of the strain EF873 chromosomal DNA (in aerobactin nonproducing Escherichia coli VCS257) for aerobactin production identified iucABCD and iutA gene orthologues. The predicted IucABCD and IutA proteins showed 59-65% identity to the corresponding proteins of Shigella flexneri and E. coli. Aerobactin molecules synthesized by E. fergusonii and E. coli strains stimulated growth of aerobactin indicator strains harboring either E. coli or E. fergusonii iutA genes. In the 12 kb upstream and 17 kb downstream regions of the iuc and iut genes, 20 additional ORFs were identified. Their gene products showed homology to proteins from E. coli, S. flexneri, Klebsiella aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio cholerae. Probes recognizing DNA sequences from a region of more than 25 kb, which included the iucABCD and iutA genes, hybridized with chromosomal DNA of two aerobactin-producing strains (EF873 and EF939), but not with other nonproducing E. fergusonii strains tested. These data, together with the genetic organization of this region, suggest that E. fergusonii iucABCD iutA genes are a portion of a larger segment of DNA similar to pathogenicity islands of other bacteria.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
PubMed1999

Genetic and biochemical comparison of 2-aminophenol 1,6-dioxygenase of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes JS45 to meta-cleavage dioxygenases: divergent evolution of 2-aminophenol meta-cleavage pathway.

Nitrobenzene is degraded to pyruvate and acetaldehyde by Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes JS45 via a reductive pathway, and by Comamonas sp. JS765 via an oxidative pathway. Although the initial reactions in the degradation of nitrobenzene by the two bacteria are totally different, the lower pathways are similar and converge at the level of 4-oxalocrotonate. In order to further investigate the biochemical properties and reveal the evolutionary relationships between the two lower pathways, the genes encoding the 2-aminophenol 1,6-dioxygenase were cloned and sequenced. 2-Aminophenol 1,6-dioxygenase from P. pseudoalcaligenes JS45 and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from Comamonas sp. JS765 were able to act on both catechol and 2-aminophenol, but catechol was a suicide substrate of 2-aminophenol 1,6-dioxygenase. The activity of 2-aminophenol 1,6-dioxygenase was restored after removal of catechol and incubation with ascorbate and FeCl(2). Both the alpha-subunit (AmnA) and the beta-subunit (AmnB) of the dioxygenase from P. pseudoalcaligenes JS45 show a high degree of identity to the corresponding subunits of the ring-fission dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. AP-3: 67% for the alpha-subunit, and 84% for the beta-subunit. Sequence similarity studies suggest that the beta-subunits of both 2-aminophenol 1,6-dioxygenases are distantly related to homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase from Escherichia coli strains W and C and then to catechol 2, 3-dioxygenase from Alcaligenes eutrophus. Four active-site-relevant histidines are conserved in AmnB, but not in AmnA. The lack of conserved histidines indicates the absence of an Fe(2+) binding site in AmnA, which explains the previous observations of only approximately one Fe(2+) per two subunits in the 2-aminophenol 1, 6-dioxygenases from P. pseudoalcaligenes JS45. The 2-aminophenol 1, 6-dioxygenase genes are located upstream of the 2-aminomuconic semialdehyde dehydrogenase gene, and a putative member of the YjgF protein family is upstream of the dioxygenase genes. Transcriptional analysis indicates that the YjgF-like protein, 2-aminophenol 1, 6-dioxygenase, and 2-aminomuconic semialdehyde dehydrogenase are coordinately transcribed. A putative ORF similar to part of the RNA helicase genes is downstream of the dehydrogenase gene. Both the novel organization of the genes and the phylogeny of the dioxygenases and dehydrogenase indicate that the 2-aminophenol pathway in P. pseudoalcaligenes JS45 represents an example of a distant divergent evolution of meta-cleavage pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Structure and function of the trp operon control regions of Brevibacterium lactofermentum, a glutamic-acid-producing bacterium.

The trp genes of Brevibacterium lactofermentum lie within a 7.72-kb HapII-BamHI fragment whose sequence has been determined (Matsui et al., 1986). The 5'- and the 3'-flanking regions of this gene cluster were subcloned as a 1.8-kb PstI-PstI and a 0.6-kb XhoI-BamHI fragment, respectively. The 5'-flanking region encodes two open reading frames (ORFs); one corresponds to trpL, while the other corresponds to the N-terminal half of the trpE gene. Within the 17 amino acid residues of the predicted leader peptide encoded by trpL are found three contiguous tryptophan residues. By subcloning parts of the 1.8-kb PstI-PstI fragment into promoter probe vectors, a promoter situated 32 bp upstream from the presumptive trpL gene was identified. The -35 and the -10 region of this promoter, TACACA and AATAAT, respectively, are very similar to the Escherichia coli trp promoter. The trp promoter of B. lactofermentum functions in E. coli. A 14-bp imperfect palindrome that overlaps the -10 region apparently functions in B. lactofermentum but not in E. coli as a trp operator. Upstream of trpE, attenuator-like sequences are found that resemble the corresponding E. coli sequences. The 0.6-kb XhoI-BamHI 3'-flanking fragment contains one ORF that encodes the C-terminal part of trpA. Downstream from trpA lies a Rho-independent terminator that resembles E. coli sequences that are situated downstream from the E. coli trp operon. Thus the trp control regions of the Gram-positive B. lactofermentum are more closely related in structure to the corresponding regions of the Gram-negative E. coli than to those of the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Cloning and sequence analysis of the ntrA (rpoN) gene of Pseudomonas putida.

The gene encoding a sigma factor NtrA (RpoN) was cloned from Pseudomonas putida by cross-hybridization with a probe containing a part of the corresponding Escherichia coli gene. The cloned gene complemented an ntrA mutation of E. coli in activation of xyl genes on the TOL plasmid. The predicted amino acid (aa) sequence of P. putida NtrA (497 aa; Mr 56,215) is highly homologous to NtrA proteins from Azotobacter vinelandii (81.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (52.6%), and Rhizobium meliloti (36.1%). There are two other open reading frames (ORF1, ORF3) upstream and downstream from the ntrA gene, respectively. These ntrA-flanking ORFs are also highly homologous to the corresponding ORFs of K. pneumoniae, A. vinelandii, and R. meliloti.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Structure of a genome region of the Lactobacillus gasseri temperate phage phiadh covering a repressor gene and cognate promoters.

By sequencing the DNA regions which flank the intG gene encoding integrase of the temperate Lactobacillus (Lb.) gasseri bacteriophage phiadh, a continuous sequence of 6590 bp was established. It encompasses five newly identified ORFs, of which four are located upstream, and one (orfC) downstream of intG. Proteins corresponding to the expected products of the intG upstream coding regions, orfA (33 kDa), orf2 (14 kDa), rad (12.1 kDa), and tec (7.9 kDa), were identified by in vitro expression of subcloned DNA fragments. Rad shares homology with transcription regulators, including SinR of Bacillus species and the repressor of phage phi105. The gporf2 is similar to predicted products of topologically equivalent coding regions of the Lactococcus lactis phage TP901-1 and the B. subtilis phage phi105. Promoters for the divergently oriented rad and tec genes were mapped within the 435-bp region between them and specify overlapping transcripts with extended 5'-untranslated sequences. As shown with lacZ fusions, Rad repressed transcription from the tec and rad promoters 20- and 5-fold, respectively. In Lb. gasseri, weak expression of cloned rad ws sufficient to mediate immunity towards phiadh.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification and characterization of genes from Streptomyces sp. strain K30 responsible for clear zone formation on natural rubber latex and poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) rubber degradation.

Streptomyces sp. strain K30 was isolated from soil next to a city high way in Münster (Germany) according to its ability to degrade natural and synthetic poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) rubber and to form clear zones on natural rubber latex agar plates. The clear zone forming phenotype was used to clone the responsible gene by phenotypic complementation of a clear zone negative mutant. An open reading frame (lcp) of 1,191 bp was identified, which was preceded by a putative signal sequence and restored the capability to form clear zones on natural rubber latex in the mutant. The putative translation product exhibited strong homologies (50% aa identity) to a putative secreted protein from Streptomyces coelicolor strain A3(2), another clear zone forming strain. Heterologous expression of lcp of Streptomyces sp. strain K30 in Streptomyces lividans strain TK23 enabled the latter to form clear zones on latex-overlay agar plates and to accumulate a degradation product of about 12 kDa containing aldehyde groups. Two ORFs putatively encoding a heterodimeric molybdenum hydroxylase (oxiAB) were identified downstream of lcp in Streptomyces sp. strain K30 strain which exerted a positive effect on clear zone formation and enabled the strain to oxidize the resulting aldehydes. Heterologous expression of a fragment harboring lcp plus oxiAB in S. lividans TK23 resulted in accumulation of aldehydes only in the presence of 10 mM tungstate. Determination of protein content during cultivation on poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) revealed an increase of the cellular protein, and gel permeation chromatography analysis indicated a shift of the molecular weight distribution of the rubber to lower values in the transgenic S. lividans strains and in the wild type, thus confirming utilization and degradation of rubber. Therefore, for the first time, genes responsible for clear zone formation on natural rubber latex and synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprene degradation in Gram-positive bacteria were identified and characterized.

Aldehydes↗
PubMed1999

The product of the cph oncogene is a truncated, nucleotide-binding protein that enhances cellular survival to stress.

Cph was isolated from neoplastic Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts initiated by 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA), and was shown to be a single copy gene in the hamster genome, conserved from yeast to human cells, expressed in fetal cells and most adult tissues, and acting synergistically with H-ras in the transformation of murine NIH3T3 fibroblasts. We have now isolated Syrian hamster full-length cDNAs for the cph oncogene and proto-oncogene. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that cph was activated in MCA-treated cells by a point-mutational deletion at codon 214, which caused a shift in the normal open reading frame (ORF) and brought a translation termination codon 33 amino acids downstream. While proto-cph encodes a protein (pcph) of 469 amino acids, cph encodes a truncated protein (cph) of 246 amino acids with a new, hydrophobic C-terminus. Similar mechanisms activated cph in other MCA-treated Syrian hamster cells. The cph and proto-cph proteins have partial sequence homology with two protein families: GDP/GTP exchange factors and nucleotide phosphohydrolases. In vitro translated, gel-purified cph proteins did not catalyze nucleotide exchange for H-ras, but were able to bind nucleotide phosphates, in particular ribonucleotide diphosphates such as UDP and GDP. Steady-state levels of cph mRNA increased 6.7-fold in hamster neoplastic cells, relative to a 2.2-fold increase in normal cells, when they were subjected to a nutritional stress such as serum deprivation. Moreover, cph-transformed NIH3T3 cells showed increased survival to various forms of stress (serum starvation, hyperthermia, ionizing radiation), strongly suggesting that cph participates in cellular mechanisms of response to stress.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

Promoter activity of sequences located upstream of the human papillomavirus types of 16 and 18 late regions.

The regulation of human papillomavirus (HPV) late gene expression is difficult to analyse because the late proteins L1 and L2 are only produced in the upper layers of terminally differentiated keratinocytes. However, for the minor capsid protein L2 of HPV types 1, 6, 11 and 16, rare mRNAs or cDNAs starting 3' of the E5 open reading frame (ORF) were previously described. In order to analyse whether the DNA region preceding the late ORFs (late upstream region, LUR) of HPV-16 and HPV-18 has promoter activity, transient transfection assays employing luciferase reporter constructs were performed. The results show that the LUR of HPV-16 and HPV-18 exhibits an orientation-dependent promoter activity in different cells. By analysing 3'-deletion mutants of the HPV-16 LUR, we identified 78 bp within the sequence between the E5 and L2 ORFs to be critical for the promoter activity. Furthermore, the analysis of a 5'-deletion mutant revealed a negative cis-regulatory element located within the E2 ORF. The HPV-16 early poly(A) signal is located downstream of the critical promoter region. Inactivation of this element by site-directed mutagenesis strongly enhanced luciferase activity. However, mutation of two potential TATA-binding protein (TBP) sites located within the critical promoter region did not abolish the activity. Altogether, these data indicate the possibility of a TATA-less promoter in the HPV-16 and HPV-18 LURs. Together with the early poly(A) signal, this potential promoter might be involved in the differentiation-dependent regulation of late gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Localized reversible frameshift mutation in an adhesin gene confers a phase-variable adherence phenotype in mycoplasma.

The variable adherence-associated (Vaa) antigen of Mycoplasma hominis is an abundant surface lipoprotein adhesin that may mediate important interactions of this wall-less prokaryotic pathogen with the human host. Extensive mutational variation of Vaa size, as well as sequence and antigenic divergence, has been described previously. Using a series of clonal isolates representing an isogenic lineage of variants oscillating in Vaa expression, Vaa is further shown in this study to undergo high-frequency phase variation in expression, which correlated precisely with the ability of M. hominis to adhere to cultured human cells. Although no DNA rearrangements or sequence differences in the 5' regions flanking vaa alleles were detected between Vaa+ and Vaa variants, intragenic vaa sequences from this lineage revealed an oscillating mutation involving a single nucleotide deletion/insertion in a short tract of adenine residues near the 5' end of the mature Vaa coding sequence, which created a translational frameshift resulting in either a complete Vaa ORF or an in-frame UAG stop codon immediately downstream of the poly-A tract. Evidence for the occurrence of this high-frequency frameshift mutation in vivo was obtained from analysis of PCR-generated vaa sequences amplified from the joint synovial fluid of a patient with M. hominis-associated arthritis, which indicated that Vaa phase variation occurs during M. hominis infection in the natural host. These results identify a distinctive frameshift mutator element in the vaa gene that governs M. hominis adherence and highlight the importance of mutational alteration of primary gene products on the mycoplasma surface as a means of generating and maintaining functional diversity in the host.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1992

Nucleotide sequences and genetic analysis of hydrogen oxidation (hox) genes in Azotobacter vinelandii.

Azotobacter vinelandii contains a heterodimeric, membrane-bound [NiFe]hydrogenase capable of catalyzing the reversible oxidation of H2. The beta and alpha subunits of the enzyme are encoded by the structural genes hoxK and hoxG, respectively, which appear to form part of an operon that contains at least one further potential gene (open reading frame 3 [ORF3]). In this study, determination of the nucleotide sequence of a region of 2,344 bp downstream of ORF3 revealed four additional closely spaced or overlapping ORFs. These ORFs, ORF4 through ORF7, potentially encode polypeptides with predicted masses of 22.8, 11.4, 16.3, and 31 kDa, respectively. Mutagenesis of the chromosome of A. vinelandii in the area sequenced was carried out by introduction of antibiotic resistance gene cassettes. Disruption of hoxK and hoxG by a kanamycin resistance gene abolished whole-cell hydrogenase activity coupled to O2 and led to loss of the hydrogenase alpha subunit. Insertional mutagenesis of ORF3 through ORF7 with a promoterless lacZ-Kmr cassette established that the region is transcriptionally active and involved in H2 oxidation. We propose to call ORF3 through ORF7 hoxZ, hoxM, hoxL, hoxO, and hoxQ, respectively. The predicted hox gene products resemble those encoded by genes from hydrogenase-related operons in other bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Alcaligenes eutrophus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗